VINAYAKA CHATURTHY

AUM SRI SAI RAM AUM SRI SAI RAM

The sacred and Vinayaka chathurthy or Gaesha Chathurthy is on
23rd Aug 2009.This day is considered as the birthday of Lord Ganesha, though the Lord has no birth or death at all.It falls on the fourth day after the new moon during the Hindu calender Bhadrapada.Ganesha,the elephant headed son of Lord Siva and Godess Parvathy is worshipped as the supreme God of good fortune,auspiciousness,intelligence.Lord Ganesha is the embodiment of intelligence(Buddhi) and achievement(Siddhi).The objective of Ganesha festival is to spread the message of oneness and harmony among the people.On the day of Vinayaka Chathurthy it is believed that The Lord is paying visit to all devotees.
What is the literal meaning of Ganapathy?'Ga' means intellect or buddhi and 'Na' means 'jnana' or wisdom.Hence Lord Ganapathy symbolises one who is the Lord of intellect and wisdom.He is also the Lord of all gunas or senses. He removes all 'vignas' or obstacles confronting us.He is the destroyer of all obstacles.He is totally autonomous and independent diety.He has no other master above Him. Asper tradition,any auspicious ceremony ,be it religious or non-religious one ,starts with worshipping Ganapathy. Lord Ganesha has a head of elephant and he has got a mouse(mooshika) as his vehicle. The mouse or mooshika is the symbol of darkness (ignorance) and smell (vasana)The mouse travels along the direction of smell.As the mouse is the vehicle of Ganesha, the Lord is one who has mastery over vasanas (smell) and darkness(ignorance).
Ganesh fesival starts seven or ten days before the day of Vinayaka chathurthy.Nowadays large idols of Ganapathy are made two or three months before the Gansha Chathurthy.During festival days , the idols are placed in a raised platform duly decorated. For all the ten or seven days , it is worshipped with various rituals.On the elevanth day ,the idol is taken throuh as a procession and will be immersed in sea or river.
This symbolises the see off of Lord in His return journey towards his abode Kailash, after paying visit to his devotees.All walks of life join in this final procession chanting Ganapathy slokas or bhajans.The divine moola manthra of Ganeshis ' Om Gam Gananapathya Namaha'
On the day of Ganesh Chathurthy after taking bath in the early mornig , visit Ganesh temples and do prayers to Lord ,offer him coconut and modakam(sweet pudding prepared with jaggery. flour etc).Worship Lord at home also .Do not look at the moon on that day as moon has misbehaved the Lord on that day

MAY THE BLESSING OF SAI GANESH BE UPON ALL.MAY HE REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES THAT OBSTRUCT YOUR SPIRITUAL PATH.MAYHE BESTOW ON YOU ALL MATERIAL PROSPERITY